Person support apparatuses with patient mobility monitoring

ABSTRACT

A person support apparatus, such as a bed, stretcher, cot, or the like, includes a fall detector. The fall detector is adapted to detect when a person associated with the person support apparatus has fallen and to issue a fall alarm. In some embodiments, the person support apparatus also includes an exit detection system that issues an exit alarm when the person exits from the person support apparatus. The fall alarm is given a higher priority than the exit alarm. The fall detector may include a camera, a thermal image sensor, a device worn by the person, or another sensor. The person support apparatus may also, or alternatively, include a timer for measuring how long an occupant remains out of the person support apparatus.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/928,513 filed Oct. 30, 2015, by inventors Richard Derenne et al. andentitled PERSON SUPPORT APPARATUSES WITH PATIENT MOBILITY MONITORING,and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/081,723 filed Nov.19, 2014, by inventors Richard Derenne et al., and entitled PERSONSUPPORT APPARATUSES WITH PATIENT MOBILITY MONITORING, the completedisclosures of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to person support apparatuses, such asbeds, cots, stretchers, operating tables, chairs, or the like. Morespecifically, the present disclosure relates to person supportapparatuses that include sensors for monitoring the motion of anoccupant of the person support apparatus, including motion of theoccupant when away from the person support apparatus.

SUMMARY

According to various embodiments, the present disclosure provides animproved person support apparatus having a mobility monitoring systemthat monitors and analyzes the movement of an occupant, such as apatient, while the patient is off the person support apparatus. Thismonitoring provides important data regarding the mobility and activityof a patient, and can be a useful indicator of the health and/orrecovery of the patient. The mobility monitoring, in some embodiments,may tally the amount of time that the patient spends off a bed, chair,or other support. In other embodiments, the mobility monitoring includesmonitoring more detailed aspects of the activity of the person whilepositioned off the bed, such as, but not limited to, the number of stepsthe person takes, the heart rate of the patient, the distance the personwalks, and/or the locations the patient has traveled to. In still otherembodiments, the mobility of the patient is monitored to determinewhether a fall has occurred and to escalate an alarm when/if such a fallis detected.

According to one embodiment, a person support apparatus is provided thatincludes a support surface, an exit detector, a fall detection sensor,and a controller. The support surface is adapted to support a personthereon. The exit detector issues an alarm if the person exits thesupport surface. The fall detection sensor detects if the person falls.The controller is in communication with the exit detector and the falldetection sensor, and the controller is adapted to issue a first alarmif the person exits the support surface and to issue a second alarm ifthe person falls. The second alarm has a higher priority than the firstalarm.

In at least one embodiment, the fall detection sensor comprises areceiver coupled to the person support apparatus and a portable unitworn by the person. The portable unit is in wireless communication withthe receiver.

In another embodiment, the fall detection sensor comprises an imagesensor adapted to detect images of the person after he or she exits fromthe person support apparatus. In some embodiments, the image sensor is athermal image sensor.

The first alarm includes, in at least one embodiment, both a visual andan audio component. At least one of the audio and visual and componentscomplies with standard 60601 of the International ElectrotechnicalCommission (IEC).

In some embodiments, the person support apparatus further includes acable interface adapted to releasably couple to a cable of a nurse callsystem. The cable interface includes a plurality of electricalconnectors, and the controller is adapted to open or close a firstswitch in communication with a first one of the electrical connectorswhen issuing the first alarm and to open or close a second switch inelectrical communication with a second one of the electrical connectorswhen issuing the second alarm.

In other embodiments, the person support apparatus further includes awireless interface adapted to wirelessly communicate with a local areanetwork. The controller sends a first message to the local area networkvia the wireless interface when issuing the first alarm, and sends asecond message to the local area network via the wireless interface whenissuing the second alarm.

According to another embodiment, a person support apparatus system isprovided that includes a first person support apparatus and a secondperson support apparatus. The first person support apparatus includes afirst support surface, a first exit detector, and a first controller.The second person support apparatus includes a second support surface, asecond fall detection sensor, and a second controller. The first personsupport apparatus is in communication with the second person supportapparatus and the first controller is adapted to issue a first alarm ifa person exits the first person support apparatus. The first controlleris further adapted to issue a second alarm if the second fall detectionsensor detects a fall of the person.

In other embodiments, the first person support apparatus furthercomprises a first fall detection sensor and the first controller isfurther adapted to issue the second alarm if the first fall detectionsensor detects a fall of the person.

In some embodiments, the first person support apparatus is a bed and thesecond person support apparatus is a recliner.

The second controller issues the second alarm if the second falldetection sensor detects a fall of the person, in some embodiments. Thesecond controller is further adapted to issue the first alarm if thefirst exit detector detects the person exiting the first person supportapparatus.

In another embodiment, the second person support apparatus furthercomprises a second exit detector that is adapted to detect if the personexits the second person support apparatus. The first controller issuesthe first alarm if the second exit detector detects the person exitingthe second person support apparatus.

In another embodiment, the first person support apparatus also includesa cable interface adapted to releasably couple to a cable of a nursecall system. The cable interface includes a plurality of electricalconnectors, and the controller is adapted to open or close a firstswitch in communication with a first one of the electrical connectorswhen issuing the first alarm and to open or close a second switch inelectrical communication with a second one of the electrical connectorswhen issuing the second alarm.

In other embodiments, the first person support apparatus furtherincludes a first ID and the second person support apparatus furtherincludes a second ID. The first person support apparatus is configuredto transmit the first ID to the second person support apparatus and thesecond person support apparatus is configured to transmit the second IDto the first person support apparatus.

According to another embodiment, a person support apparatus is providedthat includes a support surface, an exit detector, and a timer. Thesupport surface is adapted to support a person thereon. The timerrecords how much time passes between when the person leaves the supportsurface and when the person returns to the support surface.

In other embodiments, the timer also records a time of day when theperson leaves the support surface and/or a time of day when the personreturns to the support surface.

The person support apparatus includes, in some embodiments, a controllerthat maintains a log of each time the person leaves the support surfaceand returns to the support surface. The log includes a time of day ofwhen the person leaves the support surface and/or a time of day when theperson returns to the support surface. A display is included in someembodiments of the person support apparatus that displays informationfrom the log.

In another embodiment, the exit detector is adapted to be armed anddisarmed, and to issue an alarm if the person exits the support surfacewhile the exit detector is armed, and to not issue an alarm if theperson exits the support surface while the exit detector is disarmed.The timer records how much time passes between when the person leavesthe support surface and when the person returns to the support surfaceeven when the exit detector is disarmed.

The person support apparatus includes a communication interface, in someembodiments, that forwards to an electronic medical records system amessage of how much time passes between when the person leaves thesupport surface and when the person returns to the support surface.

In still other embodiments, the person support apparatus includes acommunication interface adapted to communicate with a portable deviceworn by the person. The portable device monitors at least one of thefollowing data items: how many steps the person takes; how far theperson travels; the person's heart rate; how many calories the personburns; and how much time the person is non-stationary. The portabledevice communicates at least one of these data items to the personsupport apparatus. The person support apparatus may include a displayadapted to display at least one of these data items.

According to another embodiment, a person support apparatus is providedthat includes a support surface, an exit detector, and a timer. Thesupport surface is adapted to support a person thereon. The exitdetector is adapted to be armed and disarmed and to issue an alarm ifthe person exits the support surface while the exit detector is armed,and to not issue an alarm if the person exits the support surface whilethe exit detector is disarmed. The timer is in communication with theexit detector and is adapted to record how long the person remains offthe support surface when the exit detector is disarmed.

In another embodiment, the timer is adapted to record how long theperson remains off the support surface when the exit detector is armed.

The person support apparatus includes, in some embodiments, a controlleradapted to maintain a log of each time the person is off the supportsurface and/or the time of day the person is off the support surface.The person support apparatus also includes, in at least someembodiments, a communication interface adapted to receive data from asecond person support apparatus indicating an amount of time the personhas remained off and/or on a second support surface of the second personsupport apparatus. The controller records this data from the secondperson support apparatus in the log.

In some embodiments, the person support apparatus further includes acommunication interface adapted to communicate with a portable IV stand.The portable IV stand includes at least one sensor for monitoring atleast one of the following data items: how many steps the person takes;how far the person travels; how many calories the person burns; and howmuch time the person is non-stationary. The portable IV standcommunicates at least one of the data items to the person supportapparatus.

According to still another embodiment, the person support apparatusincludes a support surface adapted to support a person thereon, and acommunication interface. The communication interface communicates with aportable IV stand and is adapted to receive at least one of thefollowing data items from the portable IV stand: how many steps theperson takes; how far the person travels; how many calories the personburns; and how much time the person is non-stationary. The personsupport apparatus includes a display adapted to display at least one ofthe data items.

In other embodiments, the person support apparatus includes an exitdetector adapted to detect when the person leaves the support surfaceand when the person returns to the support surface, and thecommunication interface sends a message to the portable IV stand whenthe person leaves the support surface. The message indicates to theportable IV stand to begin monitoring at least one of the data items.

In some embodiments, the portable IV stand communicates with thecommunication interface via at least one of the following protocols:IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15.1, and IEEE 802.15.

According to another embodiment, a mobile IV stand is provided. Themobile IV stand includes a plurality of wheels, an IV pole having a hookadapted to support an IV bag, a communication interface, a sensor, and acontroller. The sensor generates data indicative of a distance themobile IV stand travels and the controller forwards the data to thecommunication interface.

In some embodiments, the IV stand includes a timer adapted to monitorhow long the mobile IV stand is in motion. The IV stand may also includea sensor adapted to detect at least one of the following data items: howmany steps a person associated with the mobile IV stand takes; how muchtime a person associated with the mobile IV stand remains standing nextto the mobile IV stand; and a location of the mobile IV stand.

In some embodiments, the communication interface of the mobile IV standis adapted to wirelessly communicate with a bed and/or an access pointof a healthcare network.

In still another embodiment, the controller is further adapted to awaitreceipt of a message from a person support apparatus before using thesensor to generate data indicative of the distance the mobile IV standtravels.

In any of the embodiments disclosed herein, the person support apparatusmay be any one of a bed, stretcher, chair, recliner, and/or cot. In anyof the embodiments disclosed herein having an exit detector, the exitdetector may include a plurality of load cells positioned to support thesupport surface.

Before the various embodiments disclose herein are explained in detail,it is to be understood that the claims are not to be limited to thedetails of operation or to the details of construction and thearrangement of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The embodiments described herein arecapable of being practiced or being carried out in alternative ways notexpressly disclosed herein. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of“including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant toencompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well asadditional items and equivalents thereof. Further, enumeration may beused in the description of various embodiments. Unless otherwiseexpressly stated, the use of enumeration should not be construed aslimiting the claims to any specific order or number of components. Norshould the use of enumeration be construed as excluding from the scopeof the claims any additional steps or components that might be combinedwith or into the enumerated steps or components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a person support apparatus according to oneembodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a plan view diagram of the person support apparatus of FIG. 1illustrated in a room;

FIG. 3 is a plan view diagram of another embodiment of a person supportapparatus shown in a room with a second person support apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a plan view diagram of another embodiment of a person supportapparatus illustrated in a room with a mobile device that communicateswith the person support apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the mobile device of FIG. 4implemented as a mobile IV stand;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a control board usedwith the mobile IV stand of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a person support apparatus according to yetanother embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation diagram of a person support apparatusaccording to yet another embodiment shown in an alarm condition of afirst priority;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation diagram of the person support apparatus ofFIG. 8 shown in an alarm condition of a second priority that is higherthan the first priority;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of one type of cable that maybe used with any of the person support apparatuses disclosed herein; and

FIG. 11 is a plan view diagram of another person support apparatus thatmay incorporate any one or more aspects of the various embodimentsdisclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

A person support apparatus 20 according to one embodiment is shown indiagrammatic form in FIG. 1. It will be understood by those skilled inthe art that the physical construction of person support apparatus 20can take on a variety of different forms, including, but not limited to,those of a cot, a stretcher, a gurney, a recliner, an operating table, aresidential bed, or any other structure capable of supporting a person,whether stationary or mobile and/or whether medical or residential. Forexample, FIGS. 8-9 illustrate a person support apparatus 420 that isimplemented as a recliner, and FIG. 11 illustrates a person supportapparatus 520 that is implemented as a hospital bed.

In the embodiment of person support apparatus 20 shown in diagrammaticform in FIG. 1, much of the physical construction of person supportapparatus 20 has been omitted. It will be understood that person supportapparatus 20 may include any one or more of the components shown ineither or both of person support apparatus 420 (FIGS. 8-9) and/or personsupport apparatus 520 (FIG. 11), or components from still other types ofperson support apparatuses.

Person support apparatus 20 includes a controller 22, an exit detectionsystem 24, a timer 26, a communication interface 28, a display 30, and auser interface 32. Controller 22 is constructed of any electricalcomponent, or group of electrical components, that are capable ofcarrying out the functions described herein. In many embodiments,controller 22 is a conventional microcontroller, although not all suchembodiments need include a microcontroller. In general, controller 22includes any one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, fieldprogrammable gate arrays, systems on a chip, volatile or nonvolatilememory, discrete circuitry, and/or other hardware, software, or firmwarethat is capable of carrying out the functions described herein, as wouldbe known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Such components can bephysically configured in any suitable manner, such as by mounting themto one or more circuit boards, or arranging them in other manners,whether combined into a single unit or distributed across multipleunits. The instructions followed by controller 22 in carrying out thefunctions described herein, as well as the data necessary for carryingout these functions, are stored in a memory (not labeled) accessible tocontroller 22.

Controller 58 is also in communication with user interface 32. Userinterface 32 includes a plurality of controls—which may be buttons,dials, switches, or other devices—that allow a user to control variousaspects of person support apparatus 20, including, but not limited to,exit detection system 24, communication interface 28, and display 30. Inone embodiment, user interface 32 includes a control that enables a userto turn exit detection system 24 on and off, as will be discussed ingreater detail below.

Exit detection system 24 includes any one or more transducers and/orsensors that are adapted to detect when an occupant of person supportapparatus 20 exits person support apparatus 20. The form of exitdetection system 24 can vary widely in different embodiments of personsupport apparatus 20. In one embodiment, exit detection system 24includes an array of pressure sensors that is laid on top of, orintegrated into, a mattress (not shown) positioned on person supportapparatus 20 (if person support apparatus 20 is a bed, cot, orstretcher) or that is laid on top of, or integrated into a cushion onperson support apparatus 20 (if person support apparatus 20 is a chair,recliner, or the like). Such a pressure sensing array is constructed, inat least one embodiment, in any of the manners disclosed in commonlyassigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/003,157 filed Oct. 14, 2013by inventors Joshua Mix et al. and entitled SENSING SYSTEM FOR PATIENTSUPPORTS; or in any of the manners disclosed in commonly assigned U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/019,089 filed Sep. 5, 2013 by inventorGeoffrey Taylor and entitled ADAPTIVE CUSHION METHOD AND APPARATUS FORMINIMIZING FORCE CONCENTRATIONS ON A HUMAN BODY, the complete disclosureof both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In another embodiment, exit detection system 24 is constructed toinclude one or more infrared sensors that detect and process thermalimages of the occupant of person support apparatus 20 in order todetermine the position and movement of the occupant. For example, in atleast one embodiment, exit detection system 24 is constructed in any ofthe manners disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser.No. 61/989,243 filed May 6, 2014 by inventors Marko Kostic et al. andentitled PERSON SUPPORT APPARATUS WITH POSITION MONITORING, the completedisclosure of which is also incorporated herein by reference.

In still other embodiments, exit detection system 24 is constructed toinclude a plurality of force sensors, such as, but not limited to, loadcells that detect a weight and/or movement of an occupant of personsupport apparatus 20 while the occupant remains thereon. One example ofsuch a system is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,432issued to Travis and entitled PATIENT EXIT DETECTION MECHANISM FORHOSPITAL BED, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

In still other embodiments, exit detection system 24 includes one ormore video cameras that monitor the position of an occupant of personsupport apparatus 20 and visually detect whether/when the occupant exitsperson support apparatus 20. One such video-based system is disclosed incommonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/242,022 filed Sep.23, 2011 by inventors Richard Derenne et al. and entitled VIDEOMONITORING SYSTEM, the complete disclosure of which is also incorporatedherein by reference.

Regardless of its specific components and/or arrangement, person supportapparatus 20 is configured to determine a mobility time of its occupant.The mobility time is the amount of time that the occupant spends offperson support apparatus 20. As will be discussed in greater detailbelow, the mobility time may be further refined to exclude the amount oftime that the occupant spends off person support apparatus 20 whileseated, or otherwise positioned, on a second person support apparatus,or some other structure that the occupant can sit or lie on. Thus, themobility time provides an indication of the amount of time that theoccupant has spent walking and/or standing.

The mobility time can be useful in assessing how mobile a particularindividual, such as a patient in a hospital is, as well as how muchphysical activity the patient is undergoing. In many instances, patientactivity, such as walking, is believed to help facilitate recovery forthe patient. By monitoring how much time the patient spends off personsupport apparatus 20, person support apparatus 20 is able to provideuseful information to the caregivers associated with that patient.

Controller 22 of person support apparatus 20 is configured to starttimer 26 when controller 22 receives information from exit detectionsystem 24 indicating that the occupant has left person support apparatus20. The timer 26 is a clock, in at least one embodiment, that enablescontroller 22 to not only monitor the total amount of time the occupantspends away from person support apparatus 20, but also to time stamp themoment the occupant leaves and/or the moment the occupant returns toperson support apparatus 20. That is, timer 26, in at least oneembodiment, not only keeps track of the amount of time that passesbetween the occupant's departure from, and return to, person supportapparatus 20, but it also keeps track of the time of day of eachdeparture and return. All of this information is recorded in a memory(not shown) on person support apparatus 20 and/or, in at least someembodiments, forwarded off of person support apparatus 20 to anotherentity, such as an electronic medical records (EMR) system 34.

More specifically, FIG. 2 illustrates person support apparatus 20positioned in a room 38 and in communication with an EMR system 34 via acommunication link 36. Communication link 36 couples to communicationinterface 28 of person support apparatus 20. Communication interface 28includes, in at least one embodiment, a wireless transceiver andcommunication link 36 is a wireless communication link between thistransceiver and another wireless transceiver positioned within range ofperson support apparatus 20. This other wireless transceiver is, in someembodiments, part of a wireless access point to a local area network,such as a local area network of a medical facility. In at least someembodiments, wireless communication link 36 is a WiFi (IEEE 802.01)link. In other embodiments, different types of wireless links may beused, such as, but not limited to, ZigBee, Bluetooth, etc. In stillother embodiments, communication link 36 comprises one or more cablesthat couple person support apparatus 20 to EMR system 34.

Regardless of the structure of communication link 36, user interface 32includes one or more controls that allow a user to transfer theaforementioned data log stored on person support apparatus 20 to EMRsystem 34. That is, in response to user manipulation of one or morecontrols on user interface 32, controller 22 sends the data log, orportions of the data log, to EMR system 34. The specific content of thedata log may vary, but typically includes one or more of the following:the occupant's total time away from person support apparatus 20, eachdeparture time of the occupant from person support apparatus 20, eachreturn time of the occupant from person support apparatus 20, the lengthof each trip the occupant took away from person support apparatus 20,and/or the total amount of time that the occupant has spent occupyingperson support apparatus 20. This latter data item provides a tool forcomparing how much time the occupant spends on person support apparatus20 versus how much time he or she spends off person support apparatus20.

Although FIG. 2 illustrates person support apparatus 20 in communicationwith EMR system 34, it will be understood that person support apparatus20 does not need to—and indeed is not configured to do so in at leastsome embodiments—transmit the log data to an EMR system. In someembodiments, person support apparatus 20 merely makes all or a portionof the data log available for display on display 30 of person supportapparatus 20. In still other embodiments, person support apparatus 20 isconfigured to both display the log data (or portions of it) locally andto transfer it to EMR system 34.

User interface 32 of person support apparatus 20 further includes atleast one control that allows a user to clear the log data from thememory on board person support apparatus 20. This enables the user toclear old information, such as when a new patient is assigned to thatparticular person support apparatus.

In some embodiments of person support apparatus 20, exit detectionsystem 24 is adapted to be able to also, or alternatively, issue analarm when the occupant exits. In such embodiments, user interface 32 isadapted to allow a user to choose whether the detection of theoccupant's departure triggers timer 26, an alarm, neither, or both.Thus, in some situations, if a user wants to be alerted of theoccupant's departure from person support apparatus 20, but is notinterested in recording how much time the user spends off person supportapparatus 20, the user can use user interface 32 to cause controller 22to issue an alarm (audio and/or visual) when the occupant departs, butnot start timer 26. In other situations, if the user does not want to bealerted to the occupant's departure, but does wish to record the amountof time the occupant spends out of the person support apparatus, theuser can use user interface 32 to cause controller 22 to start timer 26when the occupant departs, but not trigger any alarm. Similarly, if theuser wants controller 22 to both start timer 26 and to issue an alarmwhen the occupant departs, he or she can do this via user interface 32.Finally, if the user does not wish to record the amount of time theoccupant is away from person support apparatus 20, nor does the userwish to be alerted of the occupant's departure, the user can use userinterface 32 to instruct controller 22 to neither issue an alarm norstart timer 26 when the occupant's departure is detected.

FIG. 3 illustrates a modified first person support apparatus 120positioned in a room 38 in which a modified second person supportapparatus 220 is also positioned. Both first and second person supportapparatuses 120 and 220 include the components of person supportapparatus 20 shown in FIG. 1. However, first and second person supportapparatuses 120 and 220 differ from person support apparatus 20 in theconstruction of communication interface 28 and the programming ofcontroller 22. More specifically, first and second person supportapparatuses 120 and 220 include a controller 22 and a communicationinterface 28 that are configured to allow them to communicate with eachother. That is, first person support apparatus 120 is adapted tocommunicate with second person support apparatus 220, and vice versa.Communication interfaces 28 for each person support apparatus 120 and220 include transceivers, in at least some embodiments, that communicateusing any of the 802 standards of the Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers (IEEE), such as, but not limited to, 802.11(WiFi), 802.15.1 (Bluetooth), and/or 802.15.4 (ZigBee). Othercommunication protocols may alternatively be used, including a cableconnection between person support apparatuses 120 and 220.

First person support apparatus 220 is adapted to transmit to secondperson support apparatus 220 data indicating whether or not the occupantof first person support apparatus 120, after having exited first personsupport apparatus 120, has taken a seat, or otherwise supported himselfor herself, on second person support apparatus 220. First person supportapparatus 120 uses this data to determine how much time its occupant isaway and not seated on second person support apparatus 220. In otherwords, first person support apparatus 120 performs the same timingfunction as person support apparatus 20 that yields a total amount oftime the occupant is gone, but subtracts from this time an amount oftime that the occupant spends on person support apparatus 220.

For example, if the occupant of first person support apparatus 120leaves for 45 minutes, first person support apparatus 120 detects andmeasures this time period using exit detection system 24, timer 26, andcontroller 22. Suppose further that, during those forty-five minutesthat the occupant is away from first person support apparatus 120, theoccupant sits on second person support apparatus 220 for twenty minutes.Second person support apparatus 220 detects these twenty minutes usingits exit detection system 24 and timer 26 and communicates this to firstperson support apparatus 120. First person support apparatus 120 thensubtracts the twenty minutes from the forty-five minutes it measured toyield a value of twenty-five minutes. This twenty-five minute value isrecorded, logged, and/or displayed in any of the manners discussed abovewith respect to person support apparatus 20, including, but not limitedto, transmitting it via a communication link 36 (not shown in FIG. 3) toan EMR system 34.

The twenty-five minutes computed by first person support apparatus 120in this example is an indication of how long the occupant is not onlyaway from first person support apparatus 120, but how much of that timethe occupant spent standing and/or walking. This can be especiallyhelpful in a medical facility setting where it is desirable to keeptrack of the mobility of a patient and/or how much exercise or movementthe patient is achieving. By having first person support apparatus 120communicate with second person support apparatus 220, a more accuratemeasurement of the amount of time the patient has been mobile can begenerated by removing from the measurement time which the patient spendssitting or lying on another person support apparatus. In some medicalfacility embodiments, first person support apparatus 120 is a bed whilesecond person support apparatus 220 is a nearby chair or recliner. Themobility time of the patient that is calculated by the bed thereforeexcludes any time that the patient has spent sitting on the chair orrecliner.

Although first second person support apparatus 120 has been describedherein as calculating the mobility time of its occupant by subtractingfrom the total away time of its occupant any time spent on second personsupport apparatus 220, it will be understood that the opposite canoccur. That is, second person support apparatus 220, in someembodiments, calculates the mobility time of its occupant by subtractingfrom the exit time of its occupant any time spent on first personsupport apparatus 120. In still other embodiments, both first and secondperson support apparatuses 120 and 220 each calculate their own mobilitytime of the occupant by subtracting from their respective total occupantaway times any time spent on the other person support apparatus. Eachperson support apparatus makes this time available for display, or sendsto the other person support apparatus for comparison purposes.

The manner in which the mobility time of an occupant is computed canvary widely, depending upon the implementation of exit detection system24 in the person support apparatuses 120 and 220. If exit detectionsystem 24 is an image based system, such as the video system disclosedin the aforementioned Ser. No. 13/242,022 patent application, the videoexit detection system 24 sends a signal to first person supportapparatus 120 when the occupant leaves. This causes controller 22 tostart timer 26. When the video exit detection system 24 detects that theoccupant has moved onto another person support apparatus, such as secondperson support apparatus 220, the video exit detection system 24 sendsanother signal to controller 22 indicating this fact, and controller 22responds by halting timer 26. When video exit detection system 24detects the occupant leaving second person support apparatus 220, itsends another signal to controller 22 that causes controller 22 tore-start timer 26. This continues until the occupant eventually returnsto first person support apparatus 120, at which point the video exitdetection system 24 sends a signal to controller 22 causing controller22 to stop timer 26. The total amount of time on timer 26 at that pointprovides an indication of the mobility time of the patient for thatparticular trip off person support apparatus 120. This data is storedand logged, and timer 26 is then reset for any subsequent trips offperson support apparatus 120.

If exit detection system 24 is implemented in a manner in which thelocation of a particular occupant cannot be tracked between first andsecond person support apparatuses 120 and 220, unlike a video exitdetection system, the computation of the occupant's mobility time can becalculated in a different manner. For example, if exit detection system24 of both person support apparatuses 120 and 220 comprises one or moreforce sensors that detect the weight (or absence thereof) of theoccupant on the person support apparatus, each person support apparatussends a patient exit message to the other person support apparatus whenit detects that its occupant has departed. The patient exit messageincludes one or more of the following: an indication of the occupant'sexit, the time of exit, an ID of the transmitting person supportapparatus, an ID associated with the patient who has exited, and/or aweight of the patient who has exited. The exiting of the patient alsotriggers controller 22 to start timer 26.

After the patient exit message has been sent and timer 26 started, theassociated controller continues to operate timer 26 until it receives apatient entry message (transmitted via communication interfaces 28)indicating the entry of the patient onto the other person supportapparatus. This patient entry message may include any one or more of thefollowing data: an indication of the occupant's entry, the time of theentry, an ID of the transmitting person support apparatus, an IDassociated with the patient who has entered, and/or a weight of thepatient who has entered. When the first person support apparatusreceives this patient entry message, it stops its timer until itreceives a patient exit message from the other person support apparatus.When that patient exit message is received, it re-starts its timer 26until the occupant either returns, or re-enters another person supportapparatus 20 (at which point it receives another patient entry message).When the patient finally returns, the time on the timer indicates howmuch time the patient has spent away from the person support apparatuswhile not being supported on the other person support apparatus. Thistime is stored and logged and/or transmitted elsewhere, as noted above.

In embodiments of person support apparatuses 120 and 220 where its exitdetection system 24 detects the weight or absence of weight of theiroccupants, controller 22 may be further programmed to follow additionalsteps to help distinguish the movement of an exiting occupant from themovement of other individuals, such as, but not limited to, visitors ina medical setting. Thus, for example, if a patient on a first personsupport apparatus 120 exits therefrom and, while so exited, receives avisitor who sits on second person support apparatus 220, first personsupport apparatus 120 is configured to keep running timer 26 in such asituation because it is the visitor, not the occupant of first personsupport apparatus 120, who has entered second person support apparatus220. Controller 22 of first person support apparatus 120 knows to keeprunning timer 26 in this situation because it compares the patient'sweight, transmitted in the patient entry message, with the weight of itsoccupant, which it has stored in memory. If the two don't match within aspecified tolerance, controller 22 determines that the patient entrymessage it receives corresponds to another individual, and not thepatient it is associated with, and therefore does not stop timer 26 inthis situation.

If the visitor and the patient have substantially the same weight,controller 22 of the first person support apparatus 120 will re-startits timer 26 when it receives the patient entry message from the secondperson support apparatus 220, despite the fact that this corresponds tothe visitor, and not the patient, entering thereon. If the patientreturns to first person support apparatus 120 before the visitor exitssecond person support apparatus 220, however, then controller 22 offirst person support apparatus 120 will know that the previouslyreceived patient entry message from second person support apparatus 220did not correspond to the patient, but instead corresponded to someoneelse (i.e. the visitor). In that case, controller 22 of first personsupport apparatus 120 will add back to the time value on timer 26 theamount of time since it received the patient entry message from secondperson support apparatus 220 (which corresponded to the visitor). Thistime amount is determined by controller 22, in at least someembodiments, by programming controller 22 to record the absolute timesat which it receives any patient entry messages.

In those rare situations where the visitor and the patient are of thesame weight, and the visitor both enters second person support apparatus220 subsequent to the patient exiting first person support apparatus 120and leaves second person support apparatus 220 before the patientreturns to first person support apparatus 120, controller 22 may end upcomputing an inaccurate patient mobility time value unless additionalmeasures are taken. Such additional measures may take on a variety ofdifferent forms. In at least some embodiments, each patient is assigneda wristband or other device having a unique ID in it that is readable byan adjacent wireless device (e.g. a near field ID tag readable by a nearfield reader, or the like). Each person support apparatus 120 and 220includes a reader that is able to read the data associated with thewristband, or other device, and determine the identity of its occupant.This information is communicated in the patient entry and patient exitmessages that are sent, thereby enabling an accurate mobility time ofthe patient to be computed by one or both of the person supportapparatuses 120 and/or 220.

In still other embodiments, person support apparatuses 120 and/or 220are in communication with one or more additional sensors that detectwhen a patient has sat on, or otherwise rested on, another object ordevice. For example, in one embodiment, person support apparatuses 120and/or 220 are in communication with a sensor that detects the usage ofa toilet or commode by the patient. Such a sensor can be a conventionalpressure transducer that detects the weight exerted by the patient onthe toilet seat, or it may take on other forms. The sensor sends toiletentry and toilet exit messages similar to the patient entry and patientexit messages sent by first and second person support apparatuses 120and 220. First and second person support apparatuses 120 and 220 alsoreact to these toilet entry and toilet exit messages in a similarmanner. That is, they subtract from the occupant's total mobility timeany time spent sitting on the toilet.

Person support apparatuses 120 and/or 220 are, in at least someembodiments, associated with each other. That is, they contain dataindicating that they are assigned to the same patient, or are otherwiseintended to be associated with the same patient. This data is used byperson support apparatuses 120 and/or 220, in at least some embodiments,to distinguish patient entry and patient exit messages that are sent byperson support apparatuses 120 and 220 from similar messages that aresent by other person support apparatuses that may be withincommunication range of person support apparatuses 120 and/or 220. Thus,for example, if first person support apparatus 120 is a first bed, andsecond person support apparatus 220 is a first recliner, and they areboth positioned in a room having a second bed and a second recliner,such association data allows first and second person support apparatuses120 and 220 to distinguish between the messages they send and anymessages that may be sent by the second bed and second recliner. In thismanner, first and second person support apparatuses 120 and 220 ignoreany patient entry and/or patient exit messages that come from the secondbed or second recliner, and vice versa. This is done because a patientwill typically not exit his or her bed and sit on the chair or reclinerpositioned adjacent to his or her roommate's bed, but instead will siton the chair or recliner positioned adjacent to his or her own bed. Ofcourse, if exit detection system 24 of person support apparatuses 120and/or 220 utilizes a video system, or otherwise uses devices that canindividually identify patients (e.g. ID tags or the like), first andsecond person support apparatuses 120 and/or 220 will process patiententry and patient exit messages from any person support apparatus inwhich their specific patient enters or exits, regardless of whether ornot the person support apparatus he or she enters is intended for him orher, or for his or her roommate.

The association of first person support apparatus 120 and second personsupport apparatus 220, if done, can be accomplished in differentmanners. In one embodiment, this is done manually by a user through theuse of user interface 32 in one or both of the support apparatuses. Inother embodiments, such association is accomplished automatically, orsemi-automatically, in any of the manners disclosed in commonly assignedU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/802,992 filed Mar. 14, 2013 byinventors Michael Joseph Hayes et al. and entitled COMMUNICATION SYSTEMSFOR PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUSES, the complete disclosure of which ishereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified person support apparatus 320 positioned ina room 38 in which a mobile device 40 is also positioned. Person supportapparatus 320 includes the same components of person support apparatus20 shown in FIG. 1. However, person support apparatus 320 differs fromperson support apparatus 20 in the construction of communicationinterface 28 and the programming of controller 22. More specifically,person support apparatus 320 includes a controller 22 and acommunication interface 28 that are configured to allow person supportapparatus 320 to communicate with mobile device 40. Communicationinterface 28 for person support apparatus 320 includes at least onetransceiver, in some embodiments, that communicates using any of the 802standards of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers(IEEE), such as, but not limited to, 802.11 (WiFi), 802.15.1(Bluetooth), and/or 802.15.4 (ZigBee). Other communication protocols mayalternatively be used, including a cable connection between personsupport apparatus 320 and mobile device 40.

In one embodiment, mobile device 40 is an activity tracker that isadapted to be worn by the occupant of person support apparatus 320. Theactivity tracker can take on a wide variety of different forms. In oneembodiment, the activity is any one of the Fitbit activity trackersmarketed by Fitbit, Inc. of San Francisco, Calif. In other embodiments,mobility device 40 is any one of the following: a Vivofit fitness bandmarketed by Garmin International, Inc. of Olathe, Kansas; a MicrosoftBand smart watch marketed by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash.; aNike+ Fuelband marketed by Nike, Inc. of Beaverton, Oreg.; a Gear Fitwristband marketed by Samsung of Suwon, South Korean; an Up or UP24wristband marketed by Jawbone, of San Francisco, Calif.; or an AppleiWatch marketed by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. In still otherembodiments, mobile device 40 is still another type of activity tracker.Still further, in some embodiments, the activity tracker includes one ormore sensors (e.g. accelerometers) that are adapted to detect whether ornot the individual wearing the tracker has fallen, and to transmit amessage in the event of such a fall occurrence, as will be discussed ingreater detail below.

Regardless of the specific brand, type, model, or configuration of theactivity tracker, person support apparatus 320 includes at least onecommunication interface 28 that is adapted to communicate with theactivity tracker. Controller 22 receives data from the activity trackerindicating how far the occupant of person support apparatus 320 haswalked, his or her heart rate, the estimated number of calories burned,and/or any other data that is measured by the activity tracker.Controller 22 records and logs this data, makes it available for displayon display 30, and/or transmits it to a remote location, such as, butnot limited to, EMR system 34. Caregivers associated with the occupantof person support apparatus 320 therefore are provided with informationregarding the activity level of that occupant, which may be helpful inassessing the condition and/or recovery of that occupant.

In some embodiments, person support apparatus 320 is also adapted tocalculate a mobility time of its occupant in the same manner discussedabove. That is, in addition to communicating with an activity tracker,person support apparatus 320, in at least some embodiments, includes thesame programming and/or configurations discussed above with respect toperson support apparatuses 120 and/or 220. When thus configured, personsupport apparatus 320 may include multiple transceivers in itscommunication interface 28—one for other person support apparatuses andone for the activity tracker. Alternatively, both the other personsupport apparatuses and the activity tracker may utilize a commoncommunication protocol, in which case communication interface 28 needonly include a single type of transceiver.

The particular activity tracker worn by a patient is associated with aspecific person support apparatus 320, in at least one embodiment, by acaregiver manually associating an ID of that activity tracker with aspecific person support apparatus 320. That is, in at least oneembodiment, a caregiver manually enters a unique ID of a specificactivity tracker into the person support apparatus 320 that will supportthat particular patient. This is done via user interface 32. In otherembodiments, person support apparatus 320 and its corresponding activitytracker may be associated automatically, or semi-automatically, usingother means, such as including one or more sensors on person supportapparatus 320 that automatically detect the nearby presence of theactivity tracker and, based on that presence, carry out an automatic orsemi-automatic association process. Once an activity tracker isassociated with a specific person support apparatus 320, any messagesthat either one receives from other activity trackers or other personsupport apparatuses are ignored, and vice versa, thereby ensuring that,for example, the activity data of a patient and his or her roommate donot get mixed together.

In some alternative embodiments, mobile device 40 is a mobile IV standrather than an activity tracker. FIG. 5 illustrates one example of atype of mobile IV stand 48 that mobile device 40 is implemented as in atleast one embodiment. Mobile IV stand 48 includes a plurality of hooks56 that are adapted to support an IV bag having an IV line that iscoupled to the patient. Hooks 56 are secured to a top end of a poleextension 58 that is slidable vertically within a pole 60 so as to bepositionable at different heights. Pole 60 is supported on a base 62having a plurality of wheels 64 that enable mobile IV stand 48 to bewheeled alongside a patient to different locations. In some embodiments,pole 60 supports an IV pole topper of the type disclosed in commonlyassigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/686,243 filed Nov. 27, 2012by inventors Michael Graves et al. and entitled POLE AND TOPPER FORMOBILE MEDICAL DEVICE, the complete disclosure of which is herebyincorporated herein by reference.

Mobile IV stand 48 further includes a sensing unit 66 that is builtinto, or otherwise coupled to, pole 60. Sensing unit 66 is incommunication with a control board 68 (FIG. 6) that is housed inside ofpole 60, positioned at base 62, or otherwise coupled to mobile IV stand48. Control board 68 includes a plurality of electronic componentsmounted thereon, such as one or more accelerometers 70, a heart ratesensor 72, a microcontroller 74, and a transceiver 76, which may be aBluetooth transceiver or another type of transceiver that is adapted towirelessly communicate with person support apparatus 320.Accelerometer(s) 70 are adapted to detect the acceleration of mobile IVstand 48 as it is wheeled around room 38 or elsewhere. Controller 22processes this acceleration data to determine a distance traveled and,in some embodiments, a path of the travel. In other embodiments,accelerometers 70 are replaced with one or more wheel encoders that arecoupled to one or more wheels 64 of mobile IV stand 48 and that measurethe number of rotations of the wheels 64. In still other embodiments,still other sensors are used to sense the movement of mobile IV stand48.

Heart rate sensor 72, in one embodiment, is a conventional touch sensorthat detects a patient's pulse whenever he or she grips any of thesurface of pole 60 in which sensing unit 66 is implemented. Such touchpulse sensors are known in the art and commonly found in treadmills, andother exercise equipment. Heart rate sensor 72 is in electricalcommunication with microcontroller 74 which calculates the patient'sheart rate when he or she grips the area of sensing unit 66 and storesthis calculated heart rate.

The information gathered by mobile IV stand provides a caregiverassociated with a patient information about the mobility of the patientthat assists in prescriptive activities for helping the patient to aspeedy recovery. The data gathered by mobile IV stand 48 provides, in atleast one embodiment, a time history of the patient's heart rate foreach walking session as well as statistical information for the variousmetrics measured by mobile IV stand 48 (e.g. distance traveled). In someembodiments, the patient activates mobile IV stand 48's sensors basedupon any one or more of the following: the detection of the patient'sheart rate by the heart rate sensor 72, the movement of mobile IV stand48 (as sensed by accelerometers 70 or other sensors), the receipt of amessage from person support apparatus 320 (e.g. a message indicating thepatient has exited therefrom); and/or the activation of a switch onmobile IV stand 48.

Transceiver 76 communicates with communication interface 28 of personsupport apparatus 320 and transmits thereto the data gathered by thesensors on board mobile IV stand 48. The transmitted data includes anyone or more of the following: the distance mobile IV stand 48 travels;the speeds of mobile IV stand 48; the time the patient began and/orended each trip away from person support apparatus 320 accompanied bymobile IV stand 48; and/or the locations the patient travels to withmobile IV stand 48. This data is stored, logged, made available fordisplay on display 30 of person support apparatus 320, and/ortransmitted to one or more remote computer devices, such as, but notlimited to, EMR system 34.

In still other embodiments, mobile IV stand 48 is adapted to communicatethe data it gathers from it sensors directly to another device otherthan person support apparatus 320. For example, in one embodiment, themobile IV stand is adapted to transmit the information it gathers to acomputer network of a healthcare facility. The computer network may bein communication with EMR system 34. Alternatively, the mobile IV standmay directly communicate with the EMR system, or some other system ordevice of the healthcare facility.

In one embodiment, the transmission of data from the mobile IV stand 48to either the person support apparatus 320, or some other recipient,occurs in response to cessation of the movement of mobile IV stand 48for longer than a predetermined time period. In other embodiments,transmission occurs in response to the activation of a switch or buttonon the mobile IV stand, or on person support apparatus 320. In stillother embodiments, transmission occurs when the patient removes his orher hand from any area of sensing unit 66 for a time period exceeding apredetermined threshold. Still other triggers for the transmission ofthis data may also be used, either alone or in combination with any ofthe aforementioned triggers.

Whether mobile device 40 is implemented as an activity tracker or as amobile IV stand, it includes, in at least one embodiment, datasufficient to enable it to be associated with a specific person supportapparatus. Such association works in the same manner as has beendescribed above with respect to first and second person supportapparatus 120 and 220. Generally speaking, mobile device 40 includesidentification data that distinguishes it from other mobile devices 40.Further, when a specific person support apparatus 320 is associated witha specific mobile device 40, the unique ID of the specific mobile deviceis communicated to person support apparatus 320 so that communicationbetween that specific person support apparatus 320 and that specificmobile device 40 can take place, even in the presence of other mobiledevices 40 and/or person support apparatuses 320. In this manner, if aroom 38, for example, includes two person support apparatuses 320 andeach of the patients assigned to these two person support apparatuseshas his or her own associated mobile device 40, data from the firstmobile device 40 will not be transmitted to the second person supportapparatus 320, or vice versa, and data from the second mobile device 40will not be transmitted to the first person support apparatus 320, orvice versa. Instead, data from the first mobile device 40 will becorrectly transmitted to the first person support apparatus 320, anddata from the second mobile device 40 will be transmitted to the secondperson support apparatus 320.

FIG. 7 illustrates a modified person support apparatus 420 according toanother embodiment. Person support apparatus 420 includes many of thesame components of person support apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 1. However,person support apparatus 420 differs from person support apparatus 20 inthat it includes an alarm 42 in communication with controller 22. Alarm42, in at least one embodiment, includes at least one light and at leastone sound-generating mechanism, such as, but not limited to, a beeper, abuzzer, and/or a speaker. Communication interface 28 is adapted, in atleast one embodiment, to communicate with a nurse call system (notshown) that is installed within the facility in which person supportapparatus 420 is used. Controller 22 is further configured to enable auser to select how it will react when an alarm condition is present.That is, user interface 32 allows a user to select whether an alarmcondition will result in only a local alarm (i.e. activation of alarm42), only a remote alarm (i.e. transmission of an alarm message to thenurse call system), both a local and remote alarm, or neither a localnor remote alarm.

Person support apparatus 420 is also configured to provide two differenttypes of alarms having different priority levels, both of which relateto movement of an occupant. These two different priority levels are moreeasily understood with respect to FIGS. 8 and 9. Although FIGS. 8 and 9illustrate person support apparatus 420 implemented as a recliner, itwill be understood that this is done merely for purposes of illustrationand that person support apparatus 420 can take on any of the other formsdiscussed herein. Person support apparatus 420 is adapted to allow auser to select whether to arm or disarm an alerting feature of exitdetection system 24. When exit detection system 24 is armed, controller22 activates alarm 42 when an occupant 44 leaves person supportapparatus 420. When exit detection system 24 is disarmed, controller 22does not activate alarm 42 when an occupant 44 leaves person supportapparatus 420. Whether armed or disarmed, exit detection system 24detects the departure and arrival of occupant 44. That is, the armingand disarming of exit detection system 24 refers to the arming anddisarming of alarm 42 in response to an occupant's departure, and notnecessarily to the functionality of the one or more sensors used in theexit detection system that detect the presence/absence of the occupant.

Person support apparatus 420 is configured such that when occupant 44leaves person support apparatus 420, the alarm 42 activated bycontroller 22 will be a low priority alarm. Controller 22 is alsoconfigured to switch alarm 42 to a higher priority alarm if, afterleaving person support apparatus 420, occupant 44 falls. Person supportapparatus 420 therefore issues a first low priority alarm when anoccupant leaves, and issues a second higher priority alarm if, afterleaving, the occupant falls down.

In at least one embodiment, the first and second priority alarms meetthe criteria set for by the International Electrotechnical Commission(IEC) of Geneva, Switzerland, in standard 60601-1-8 (any edition), whichis incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. More specifically,controller 22 is configured to activate alarm 42 in accordance with thecriteria for a low priority alarm of IEC standard 60601-1-8 whenoccupant 44 leaves person support apparatus 420. Controller 22 is alsoconfigured to activate alarm 42 in accordance with the criteria for amedium priority alarm of IEC standard 60601-1-8 when person supportapparatus 420 detects that occupant 44 has fallen. These criteriainclude limitations on the color and/or brightness of the lights, aswell as the volume and/or pitch of the sounds, that are emitted by alarm42 for each priority level of the alarm.

Communication interface 28 of person support apparatus 420 is configuredto communicate with a mobile fall detection device 46 (FIGS. 8-9) thatis adapted to be worn by an occupant 44 of person support apparatus 420.Such communication provides person support apparatus 420 withinformation regarding whether or not occupant 44 has fallen. In someembodiments, communication between communication interface 28 and falldetection device 46 takes place via a WiFi (IEEE 802.01) link. In otherembodiments, different types of wireless links may be used, such as, butnot limited to, ZigBee, Bluetooth, etc.

Fall detection device 46, in at least some embodiments, is acommercially available wristband, bracelet, necklace, or other type ofstructure adapted to be worn by an occupant 44. Fall detection device 46includes sensors, such as one or more accelerometers, that detectdownward movement of occupant 44 and hence falls. As noted previously,in some embodiments, fall detection device is any one of the previouslydescribed activity trackers that include accelerometers, or othersensors, adapted to detect a person's fall. Regardless of its physicalform, fall detection device 46 includes a communication transceiver thatenables it to communicate a fall message to communication interface 28when it detects that occupant 44 has fallen. Upon receipt of such a fallmessage, controller 22 escalates the priority status of alarm 42 from afirst priority level to a higher priority level.

Fall detection device 46 includes a unique identifier, in at least oneembodiment, that enables it to be paired or associated with a specificperson support apparatus 420. Such pairing ensures that when falldetection device 46 detects an occupant fall, the fall message ittransmits will be directed to the appropriate person support apparatus420 (i.e. the one that the occupant exited). Any other person supportapparatuses 420 that may be within communication range of fall detectiondevice 46 and who might detect the fall message will not react to thefall message because they are not associated with that specific falldetection device 46. Such association takes place, in at least oneembodiment, by manually entering information identifying the specificfall detection device 46 into the memory of person support apparatus 420using user interface 32.

In some embodiments, fall detection device 46 includes a unique bar codeand user interface 32 includes a bar code reader that reads the barcode. After reading the bar code, person support apparatus 420 onlyresponds to fall messages sent from the specific fall detection devicehaving that particular bar code, or an ID associated with thatparticular bar code. The fall message sent by fall detection device 46includes the bar code, or the ID associated with that bar code, so thatcontroller 22 can determine whether any fall messages received bycommunication interface 28 are to be processed or ignored.

In other embodiments, fall detection device 46 includes an electronictag, such as a near field communication transceiver, or other type ofelectronic tag that is detectable by one or more sensors on personsupport apparatus 420 when positioned within a close proximity to personsupport apparatus 420. In these embodiments, controller 22 is configuredto automatically associate itself with the specific fall detectiondevice 46 when it is within communication range (i.e. occupant 44 issitting or lying on person support apparatus 420) of the fall detectiondevice 46. Other manners for associating a specific fall detectiondevice 46 with a specific person support apparatus 420 are alsopossible.

Controller 42 is configured, in at least some embodiments, to ignorefall messages that may be transmitted from fall detection device 46while the occupant is still supported on person support apparatus 420.That is, in some instances, it is possible that an occupant's movementwhile positioned on person support apparatus 420 may trigger a falsefall message from fall detection device 46. This may result from theoccupant lying down on person support apparatus 420 (especially if it isa bed), or otherwise shifting his or her body in a way that involvessharp accelerations, or other types of movements, that trigger falldetection device 46. Controller 22 does not issue a higher priorityalarm, or any alarm at all, in these situations, because controller 22has not received a signal or message from exit detection system 24 ofperson support apparatus 420 indicating that the occupant has exitedperson support apparatus 420. Instead, with the occupant still on personsupport apparatus 420, controller 22 interprets any fall message itreceives as incorrect and takes no alerting action. Only after theoccupant leaves person support apparatus 420—which is detected by exitdetection system 24—does controller 22 respond to a received fallmessage by escalating the low priority alarm, due to the occupant'sdeparture from person support apparatus 420, to a higher priority alarm.

Person support apparatus 420 is configured, in some embodiments, to onlyactivate a higher priority alarm when the lower priority alarm has firstbeen activated. That is, in some embodiments of person support apparatus420, controller 22 does not issue any alarm based on a fall message fromfall detection device 46 unless exit detection system 24 has detected apatient's exit and controller 22 has activated alarm 42 to its firstpriority. Only after alarm 42 have been activated to a first prioritylevel will controller 22 escalate this alarm to a higher priority levelif a fall message is received.

In still other embodiments, person support apparatus 420 is configuredto allow a user to choose whether to issue an alarm in response to anoccupant fall independently of whether or not an alarm is issued upon anoccupant's departure from person support apparatus. In other words, inthis embodiment, person support apparatus 420 can be configured to notissue an alarm when the occupant leaves person support apparatus 420,but to issue an alarm thereafter if a fall is detected. In such anembodiment, controller 22 still utilizes inputs from exit detectionsystem 24 when determining whether a fall message received from falldetection device 46 is valid or not, as discussed previously. That is,if controller 22 receives a fall message from fall detection device 46while exit detection system 24 is still detecting the presence of theoccupant on person support apparatus 420, controller 22 interprets thisas an invalid fall message and does not activate alarm 42. This helpsreduce false fall alarms.

In some embodiments, fall detection device 46 is not implemented as amobile device that is worn by occupant 44. In such embodiments, thedetection of an occupant's fall is determined by other means. Forexample, in one embodiment, person support apparatus 420 includes one ormore thermal cameras positioned thereon that capture thermal images ofthe areas surrounding person support apparatus 420. These images areanalyzed by controller 22 to detect the presence and location ofoccupant 44 when occupant 44 is positioned off person support apparatus420. If the height and/or position of the occupant's body detected inthe thermal images changes in a manner indicative of a fall, controller22 activates and/or escalates alarm 42 in the manners discussed above.One example of a person support apparatus that incorporates such thermalimage sensors for detecting an occupant's fall is disclosed in moredetail in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/989,243filed May 6, 2014 by inventors Marko N. Kostic et al. and entitledPERSON SUPPORT APPARATUS WITH POSITION MONITORING, the completedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

In other embodiments, fall detection device 46 is implemented using oneor more visual cameras positioned on person support apparatus 420 and/orwithin the vicinity of person support apparatus 420. These camerascapture visual images of person support apparatus 420 and the areassurrounding person support apparatus 420 (e.g. room 38). The visualimages are processed, such as by controller 22 or another controller,and analyzed to determine if occupant 44 has fallen after leaving personsupport apparatus 420. One example of such a visual image detectionsystem that can be used to implement fall detection device 46 isdisclosed in the aforementioned Ser. No. 13/242,022 patent application,which has already been incorporated herein by reference. In someembodiments, when fall detection device 46 is implemented as a videomonitoring system, such as that disclosed in the Ser. No. 13/242,022patent application, the video monitoring system may also perform thefunction of exit detection system 24. In such embodiments, both falldetection device 46 and exit detection system 24 utilize the samehardware and are effectively combined into a single system. In otherembodiments, person support apparatus 420 retains its own exit detectionsystem 24 that is separate from the video monitoring system used toimplement fall detection device 46.

In still other embodiments, person support apparatus 420 includes itsown fall detection device—such as a thermal image sensor of the typedisclosed in the aforementioned 61/989,243 patent application or someother type—but is adapted to transmit a fall detection message toanother person support apparatus rather than issuing and/or escalatingthe priority of an existing alarm. The person support apparatus thatreceives the fall detection message from person support apparatus 420then either issues an alarm or escalates an existing alarm to a higherpriority. The person support apparatus that receives the fall detectionmessage may include its own fall detection sensors. By including falldetection sensors in multiple person support apparatuses that are incommunication with each other, a greater range for detecting falls canbe obtained. Thus, for example, in a room of a medical facility thatincludes two or more person support apparatuses 420 that each have theirown fall detection devices, a patient who exits a first one of theperson support apparatuses 420 and walks outs of range of the falldetector of the first person support apparatus 420 may still be in rangeof a fall detector of the second person support apparatus. When thesecond person support apparatus 420 detects this fall, it forwards afall message to the first person support apparatus 420, which is theperson support apparatus associated with the patient. The second personsupport apparatus 420 that detects the fall is, in some embodiments,also associated with the patient. In other embodiments, the secondperson support apparatus 420 is associated with a different patient, ornot associated with any patient at all.

User interface 32 enables a user to select whether the escalatedalarming performed by controller 22 in response to an occupant's falloccurs only locally (i.e. at person support apparatus 420), occurs onlyremotely (e.g. at a nurses' station in a hospital), or occurs bothlocally and remotely. Based on this selection, controller 22 determineswhether to activate alarm 42 in response to an occupant's fall, whetherto transmit a message to communication interface 28 for communication toa remote device (e.g. a nurse call system), or whether to do both.

Communication interface 28, in at least one embodiment, is configured tosend a message wirelessly to a nurse call system indicating that alarm42 has been activated, as well as an indication of whether the alarm isat the higher or the lower priority level. In one embodiment, thiswireless communication with the nurse call system is carried out in anyone of the manners disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 62/035,656 filed Aug. 11, 2014 by inventors KrishnaS. Bhimavarapu et al. and entitled PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUSES WITHWIRELESS HEADWALL COMMUNICATION, the complete disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference. If fall detection device 46 isconfigured to be worn by occupant 44 (rather than implemented as avisual or thermal image system), then communication interface 28 alsoincludes hardware and programming enabling it to communicate wirelesslywith fall detection device 46. In some embodiments, communicationinterface 28 includes the same hardware and uses the same protocols forcommunicating with fall detection device 46 and the nurse call system,such as, but not limited to, WiFi, Bluetooth, and/or ZigBee.

In another embodiment, communication interface 28—in addition toincluding hardware and programming for communicating with fall detectiondevice 46—also includes a plurality of relays, or other electricallycontrolled switches, that are in electrical communication with a cableport on person support apparatus 420. When controller 22 activates alarm42 at a first priority level and controller 22 is configured tocommunicate this information remotely to a nurse call system,communication interface 28 changes the state of a corresponding one ofthe relays (i.e. closes or opens the relay). When controller 22activates alarm 42 at a second priority level and controller 22 isconfigured to communicate this information remotely to a nurse callsystem, communication interface 28 changes the state of second one ofthe relays that corresponds to this second alarm priority level.

A cable, such as cable 50 shown in FIG. 10, connects person supportapparatus 420 to a nurse call receptacle integrated into a headwall of amedical facility. Cable 50 may be a conventional nurse call cable, whichtypically includes 37 pins, or it may be another type of cable. In oneembodiment, cable 50 is a magnetically coupled cable, such as thatdisclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/790,762 filed Mar. 8, 2013 by inventors Krishna S. Bhimavarapu et al.and entitled PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUS CONNECTORS, the completedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Othertypes of cables may, of course, be used.

Regardless of the specific number of pins or specific physicalconfiguration of cable 50, it includes a plug 52 having a plurality ofpins 54. Plug 52 is adapted to be inserted into the cable port on personsupport apparatus 420. The other end of cable 50 (not shown) includes aplug that is adapted to be plugged into the receptacle of the nurse callsystem. Each pin 54 of plug 52 is adapted to fit into a correspondingreceptacle on the cable port of person support apparatus 420. Eachreceptacle is, in turn, in electrical communication with one of therelays.

Controller 22's changing of a state of a first relay in response to afirst priority alarm thereby either opens or closes an electricalpathway that extends between a first pin 54 in electrical communicationwith the first relay and another pin 54 corresponding to an electricalground. Similarly, controller 22's changing of a state of a second relayin response to a second priority alarm thereby either opens or closes anelectrical pathway that extends between a second pin 54 in electricalcommunication with the second relay and the electrical ground pin. Theresult is that the nurse call system is able to detect the changes inthe relay states on person support apparatus 420 when the nurse callcable is connected between the port on person support apparatus 420 andthe nurse call receptacle. The nurse call system can thereby determineif either a first or second level priority alarm has been activated.

FIG. 11 illustrates one example of a person support apparatus 520 thatis implemented as a hospital bed. It will be understood that any ofperson support apparatuses 20, 120, 220, 320, and/or 420 discussedherein can be physically constructed in a similar manner to theconstruction of person support apparatus 520. Person support apparatus520 includes a base 80 having a plurality of wheels 82, a pair of lifts84 supported on the base, a frame or litter 86 supported on the lifts84, and a support deck 88 supported on the frame 86. Lifts 84 areadapted to raise and lower frame 86 with respect to base 80, either inunison or in a manner that allows tilting of frame 86 with respect tohorizontal.

Support deck 88 provides a support surface 90 on which a mattress (notshown), or other soft cushion is positionable so that a person may lieand/or sit thereon. Support deck 88 is made of a plurality of sections,some of which are pivotable about generally horizontal pivot axes. Inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 11, support deck 88 includes a head section92, a seat section 94, a thigh section 96, and a foot section 98. Headsection 92, which is also sometimes referred to as a Fowler section, ispivotable about a generally horizontal pivot axis between a generallyhorizontal orientation (not shown in FIG. 11) and a plurality of raisedpositions (one of which is shown in FIG. 11). Thigh section 96 and footsection 98 may also be pivotable.

A plurality of siderails 100 (FIG. 11) may also be coupled to frame 86.Siderails 100 are movable between a raised position in which they blockingress and egress into and out of person support apparatus 520, and alowered position in which they are not an obstacle to such ingress andegress.

The construction of any of base 80, lifts 84, frame 86, support deck 88,and/or siderails 100 may take on any known or conventional design, suchas, for example, that disclosed in commonly assigned, U.S. Pat. No.7,690,059 issued to Lemire et al., and entitled HOSPITAL BED, thecomplete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference; orthat disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. publication No.2007/0163045 filed by Becker et al. and entitled PATIENT HANDLING DEVICEINCLUDING LOCAL STATUS INDICATION, ONE-TOUCH FOWLER ANGLE ADJUSTMENT,AND POWER-ON ALARM CONFIGURATION, the complete disclosure of which isalso hereby incorporated herein by reference. The physical constructionof person support apparatus 520 can also take on different forms fromwhat is disclosed in the aforementioned patent and patent publication.

As noted previously, any of person support apparatuses 20, 120, 220,320, and/or 420 can take on other forms besides beds, such as bed 520 ofFIG. 11. One other type of form that person support apparatuses 20, 120,220, 320, and/or 420 can take on is a chair or recliner. Whenimplemented as a chair or recliner, any of these person supportapparatuses may be physically constructed in any of the mannersdisclosed in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/212,323 filed Mar. 14, 2014 by inventors Christopher Hough et al. andentitled MEDICAL SUPPORT APPARATUS, the complete disclosure of which ishereby incorporated herein by reference. Person support apparatuses 20,120, 220, 320, and/or 420 can also take on different forms.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that any of thefeatures of any one of the person support apparatuses discussed herein(20, 120, 220, 320, 420, and/or 520) can be combined with any of thefeatures of any other one of these person support apparatuses. Thus, forexample, person support apparatus 420, in addition to escalating analarm priority level when a patient fall is detected, can be configuredto monitor the time a patient spends off person support apparatus 420(similar to person support apparatus 20); and/or to communicate with asecond person support apparatus (similar to person support apparatuses120 and 220); and/or to communicate with a mobile device 40, such as anactivity tracker or a mobile IV stand, or the like (similar to personsupport apparatus 320).

Any of person support apparatuses 20, 120, 220, 320, 420, and/or 520 canalso be configured to carry out any one or more of the functionsdescribed herein (e.g. calculating an occupant's mobility time; trackinghow many steps an occupant takes; escalating a priority level of analarm, etc.) by utilizing one or more software applications that aredownloaded from, and/or executed in conjunction with, a network servicein the manners disclosed in commonly assigned PCT patent publication WO2014/150970 filed Mar. 12, 2014 by applicant Stryker Corporation andentitled PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUS WITH REMOTE COMMUNICATION, thecomplete disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.Thus, for example, person support apparatus 20, 120, 220, 320, 420,and/or 520 can be initially installed in a facility with the hardwareshown in FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 7, but not include the necessary softwarefor carrying out one or more of the functions described herein.Communication interface 28, however, is adapted to couple to a computernetwork having one or more network services that transmit the necessarysoftware application to the person support apparatus to carry out one ormore of these functions. The transmitted software application is, insome embodiments, a thin or thick client application that operates inconjunction with the network service, or it may be a standaloneapplication that operates completely independently of the computernetwork.

In still other embodiments, the software applications that carry out anyone or more of the functions described herein may be accessible from anon-line app store for person support apparatuses. Controller 22 hasaccess to this app store via communication interface 28. The downloadingand/or usage of such apps by a particular person support apparatus 20,120, 220, 320, 420, and/or 520 results in a bill to the medical facilityfor that particular download and/or usage. Such customized billing andconfigurability for person support apparatuses is disclosed in moredetail in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 62/081,744filed Nov. 19, 2014 by inventors Daniel Brosnan et al. and entitledMEDICAL APPARATUS WITH SELECTIVELY ENABLED FEATURES, the completedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Amedical facility using any of person support apparatuses 20, 120, 220,320, 420, and/or 520 can therefore download an app allowing the personsupport apparatus to monitor a patient's time out of bed; to communicatewith other person support apparatuses; to communicate with a mobile IVstand; to communicate with an activity tracker; to detect patient falls;and/or to escalate alarm priorities in response to a detected patientfall.

Any one of person support apparatuses 20, 120, 220, 320, 420, and/or 520can be further modified to issue an exit alarm based upon an occupantexiting a different person support apparatus. In such situations, theexiting of the person from a first person support apparatus is detectedby exit detection system 24 of the first person support apparatus. Thefirst person support apparatus then sends an exit message via itscommunication interface 28 to the communication interface 28 of a secondperson support apparatus. The second person support apparatus thenissues an alarm indicating that the person has exited from the firstperson support apparatus. Further, if the person subsequently falls andit is detected by a fall detection device 46 on the first person supportapparatus, the first person support apparatus transmits a fall messageto the second person support apparatus and the second person supportapparatus, if so configured, escalates the alarm from a lower prioritylevel (corresponding to the person's exiting from the first personsupport apparatus) to a higher priority level (corresponding to a fall).

The aforementioned modified person support apparatuses can beimplemented, as one example, as a bed and a recliner that are associatedwith a specific patient in a medical facility. If the patient is seatedin the recliner and its exit detection system is armed, the reclinertransmits an exit detection message to the bed associated with thatpatient. The bed then issues an exit alarm. The recliner may or may notissue its own alarm, depending upon its configuration. If the bed andrecliner both include fall detection sensors, and the reclinersubsequently detects that the patient has fallen, it sends a fallmessage to the bed. The bed then escalates the exit alarm to a fallalarm. Depending upon how the user of the bed has configured the bed viauser interface 32, the bed also forwards alarm signals to a remotelocation (e.g. a nurse call system) for the patient's exit from therecliner and/or for the patient's fall.

Various additional alterations and changes beyond those alreadymentioned herein can be made to the above-described embodiments. Thisdisclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not beinterpreted as an exhaustive description of all embodiments or to limitthe scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated ordescribed in connection with these embodiments. For example, and withoutlimitation, any individual element(s) of the described embodiments maybe replaced by alternative elements that provide substantially similarfunctionality or otherwise provide adequate operation. This includes,for example, presently known alternative elements, such as those thatmight be currently known to one skilled in the art, and alternativeelements that may be developed in the future, such as those that oneskilled in the art might, upon development, recognize as an alternative.Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using thearticles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limitingthe element to the singular.

What is claimed is:
 1. A patient support apparatus comprising: a supportsurface adapted to support a patient thereon; an exit detector adaptedto detect when the patient leaves the support surface and when thepatient returns to the support surface; a transmitter adapted to send amessage to a portable IV stand associated with the patient when thepatient leaves the support surface, the message indicating to theportable IV stand to begin monitoring at least one of the following dataitems: (a) how many steps the patient takes traveling with the portableIV stand; (b) how far the patient travels with the portable IV stand;(c) how much time the patient spends traveling with the portable IVstand; and (d) how many calories the patient burns traveling with theportable IV stand; and a receiver adapted to receive the at least onedata item from the portable IV stand.
 2. The patient support apparatusof claim 1 further including a display adapted to display the at leastone data item received from the portable IV stand.
 3. The patientsupport apparatus of claim 2 wherein the patient support apparatus is abed.
 4. The patient support apparatus of claim 2 wherein the transmitteris further adapted to communicate the at least one data item receivedfrom the portable IV stand to a healthcare computer network.
 5. Thepatient support apparatus of claim 2 further comprising: a timer adaptedto record how much time passes between when the patient leaves thesupport surface and when the patient returns to the support surface. 6.The patient support apparatus of claim 1 wherein the message sent by thetransmitter to the portable IV stand includes a unique ID distinguishingthe portable IV stand from other portable IV stands not associated withthe patient.
 7. The patient support apparatus of claim 1 wherein thereceiver uses at least one of the following protocols when receiving theat least one data item from the portable IV stand: IEEE 802.11, IEEE802.15.1, and IEEE 802.15.
 8. The patient support apparatus of claim 1further comprising a controller adapted to receive a software app from aremote app store and to use the software app to communicate with theportable IV stand.
 9. A patient support apparatus system comprising: aportable IV stand comprising: (a) a plurality of wheels, (b) an IV polehaving a hook adapted to support an IV bag, (c) a sensor adapted togenerate data indicative of a distance the portable IV stand travels,(d) a controller adapted to await receipt of a message before using thesensor to generate the data indicative of the distance the portable IVstand travels, and (e) a transmitter adapted to transmit the data offthe portable IV stand; and a patient support apparatus comprising: (a) asupport surface adapted to support a patient thereon, (b) a receiveradapted to receive the data from the transmitter of the portable IVstand, (c) a transmitter adapted to transmit the message to thecontroller of the portable IV stand, and (d) a display adapted todisplay the data received from the portable IV stand.
 10. The patientsupport apparatus system of claim 9 wherein the portable IV standfurther comprises a timer adapted to monitor how long the portable IVstand is in motion.
 11. The patient support apparatus system of claim 9wherein the portable IV stand further comprises a sensor adapted todetect at least one of the following data items: how many steps thepatient associated with the patient support apparatus takes; how muchtime the patient associated with the patient support apparatus remainsstanding next to the portable IV stand; and a location of the portableIV stand.
 12. The patient support apparatus system of claim 9 whereinthe patient support apparatus is a bed.
 13. The patient supportapparatus system of claim 9 wherein the transmitter is adapted towirelessly communicate with an access point of a healthcare computernetwork.
 14. The patient support apparatus system of claim 9 wherein themessage received from the patient support apparatus includes a unique IDdistinguishing the portable IV stand from other portable IV stands notassociated with the patient.
 15. A patient support apparatus systemcomprising: a portable IV stand associated with a patient, the portableIV stand comprising: (a) a plurality of wheels, (b) an IV pole having ahook adapted to support an IV bag, (c) a sensor adapted to generate dataindicative of a characteristic of the patient when the patient walkswith the portable IV stand, and (d) a transmitter adapted to transmitthe data off of the portable IV stand; and a patient support apparatuscomprising: (a) a support surface adapted to support the patientassociated with the portable IV stand thereon, (b) a receiver adapted toreceive the data from the transmitter of the portable IV stand; (c) acontroller adapted to execute a software app received from a remotesoftware app store, the software app allowing the controller to sum thereceived data from a plurality of walks with the portable IV stand; and(d) a display adapted to display the sum of the received data.
 16. Thepatient support apparatus system of claim 15 wherein the data indicativeof a characteristic of the patient comprises at least one of thefollowing: (a) how many steps the patient takes walking with theportable IV stand; (b) how far the patient walks with the portable IVstand; (c) how much time the patient spends walking with the portable IVstand; and (d) how many calories the patient burns walking with theportable IV stand.
 17. The patient support apparatus of claim 16 whereinthe patient support apparatus further comprises: an exit detectoradapted to detect when the patient leaves the support surface and whenthe patient returns to the support surface; and a transmitter adapted tosend a message to the portable IV stand when the patient leaves thesupport surface.
 18. The patient support apparatus system of claim 16wherein the patient support apparatus further comprises a transmitteradapted to communicate the sum of the received data to a healthcarecomputer network.
 19. The patient support apparatus system of claim 15wherein the patient support apparatus further comprises a transmitteradapted to send a message to the portable IV stand associated with thepatient when the patient leaves the support surface, the messageindicating to the portable IV stand to begin generating the dataindicative of the characteristic of the patient when the patient walkswith the portable IV stand.